Biography
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César Winston Vera was born in the historic town of Sleepy Hollow, New York. His parents, two sisters, and two brothers migrated from South America shortly after his birth.
His mother, who worked in an apparel factory as a seamstress, taught him how to sew and make patterns. She encouraged him to develop his imagination and artistic abilities on all levels of self-expression. At the age of 16, he worked as a layout preparer and textile color separator for the artist Vera Neuman, who also encouraged him to pursue a career in the apparel industry.
In 1987, César attended the Fashion Institute of Technology of New York City, shortly changing his field of interest to the visual arts. He lived in San Francisco for five years, where he attended workshops in watercolor and figure drawing.
In 1996 he returned to New York and joined Pace University as a coordinator for the Graphics department. In the evenings he continued his education and acquired a Bachelors of Science in Art at Pace University, NY. He graduated Magna Cum Laude and received the Margaret B. Woods award for making a significant contribution to the department of Fine Arts. He continued his education at the College of New Rochelle, acquiring a Master’s of Science in Studio Art. He recently acquired an MS in Mental Health Counseling from Pace University.
César creates in a variety of mediums, all executed in a painterly fashion. The large-scale mixed media paintings reveal the emotional and physical challenges that come along with the process of accepting one’s own mortality. He references his culture, upbringing, beliefs and his personal experiences to convey and support this message.
César lives and works in lower Westchester. His work is in numerous private collections and he actively donates his art to charity.